Collapsible container



. M, M. ANTIL COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 5, 1946 m f N E M W M/c HEL {IN /1..

Dec. 14, 1943. ANTIL, 2,456,4?9

COLLAPSIBLE CONTAINER Filed Dec. 5, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 14, 1948 2 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in collapsible containers intended particularly as a storage container for various articles and made of wood, metal and other suitable materials. In use, one or more of the collapsible containers are mounted on a support which may be a door, a closet wall or other object. Normally the collapsible containers are in collapsed condition and when needed they are opened up.

An important use of the new collapsible containers is for receiving merchandise for small stores or other business establishments, apartments and homes. For example, grocery stores usually have a wooden box in front of their premises so that bread and other articles may be delivered before or after business hours. Frequently deliveries are made to places which do not have delivery boxes, and if no one is present to accept the merchandise it is generally left in the street or hallway, or other public' passage. All persons concerned merely hope that none of the merchandise will be stolen.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a collapsible container intended to be mounted upon a support such as a door, wall or other object which normally, when not in use, is closed so as to be out of the way. When it is desired to use the container it is merely extended and it is ready to receive articles. that containers in accordance with this invention be mounted upon the doors of small business establishments, or apartments or homes so that deliveries may be made and securely locked in the container during hours when there is no one to receive such deliveries.

It is contemplated to apply the new collapsible container upon the outside of a door or other support for outside package delivery. It is also contemplated to apply the collapsible container upon the inside of a door or support for inside package delivery, particularly for apartment houses. These two forms of the invention will become clear as this specification proceeds.

Another important object of this invention resides in the construction of a container which may be used as a drawer to receive and hold various articles in the home, or on racks for business merchandise, or on the walls of trucks for deliveries, and which may be readily collapsed when not in use so as to be out of the way.

The new collapsible container is characterized by a casing for attachment to a verticle support such as a door, wall, rack or other obejct and having an open front surrounded by top, bottom and It is proposed end walls. Accordion-like side walls are mounted at their inner ends within said casing and are adapted to be extended when desired. A front wall is mounted across the outer ends of said accordion-like side walls. A base wall is hingedly mounted at its bottom edge within said casing for forming the bottom of said container when extended. It is also proposed to extend a cover across the open front of said casing for normally coverning the container when its parts are collapsed, and arranged to form the top of the container when the container is in its extended position. This cover is not needed when the container is used for inside delivery.

It is also proposed to associate a lock with said collapsible container so that it may be locked while in an extended position for outside use. When the container is used for inside delivery, it is proposed to provide the door or other support with a panel or small door which may be locked and opened to give access to the collapsible container.

It is also proposed to provide the container with advertising material, when used commercially.

Another object of this invention is to so construct the collapsible container that it may protect merchandise placed therein from water, rain, snow and temperature changes.

Another object of the invention is the construction of a device as described which is simple and durable and which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are moreparticularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a door provided with a collapsible container constructed in accordance with this invention-and viewed from the outside.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional-view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrated with the container in its open position.

Fig. 5 is an edge elevational view of a support provided with a plurality of collapsible containers in accordance with this invention, which may be used as drawers.

Fig. 6 is a front elevatlonal view of a door or support provided with a collapsible container constructed in accordance with another form of this invention and viewed from the outside of the door or support.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 6.

walls [5. A base wall I! is hingedly mounted at its bottom edge within said casing and is adapted to form the bottom of said container when extended. A cover I8 is extended across the open front of the casing 10 and is hingedly mounted at its top edge to the top wall [2 of the casing and is adapted to form the top of the container when extended,

The casing l0 has a back wall by which it may be conveniently attached upon the support H. The accordion-like side walls I5 are each formed from several sections 2| and 22 hingedly connected with each other by a hinge construction 23. The inner end of the section 2! is supported within the casing ill with hinges 24.

The outer ends of the sections 22 are connected I with the'front wall (6 by hinges 25. The base wall ll is hingedly mounted at its bottom edge by a hinge 26. The front wall It has an inwardly directed bottom flange 2! adapted to act as a means for limiting hinging of said base wall I I to a horizontal position, as illustrated in Fig. 4. The cover I8 is hingedly connected with the top wall i2 by a hinge 28. The top edge of the front wall i6 is slightly lower than the top wall 12 so as to support the cover l8 in a downwardly sloping position in its extended condition, as illustrated in Fig. 4.

Waterproofing and weatherproofing material is mounted upon the cover l8 and the top wall of the casing I 2 to shed rain, snow, and the like and to protect the container to some degree from temperature chanegs. If desired other portions of the container may be similarly weather proofed. The collapsible container may be mounted upon the outside of the support H, or door. or on the inside, or in other desirable positions or ways. Lock keeper elements 31 and 32 are mounted upon the cover l8 and front wall I6 for a lock 33 by which the container may be locked in an open condition.

In Figs. 1-3, the collapsible container is illustrated in its closed position. The container may be opened by hinging the cover l8 upward and then extending the front wall I 6 and side walls 15. The case wall I! is then lowered to its horizontal position, as illustrated in Fig. 4. The cover 18 is then let down upon the top of the front wall IS. The container is now open, as illustrated in Fig. 4.

In Fig. 5 another use of the container has been disclosed. The support II which schematically represents the wall of a closet, or the wall of a rack, or truck or other object, is provided with a plurality of the collapsible containers mounted in superimposed positions. These collapsible coutainers are illustrated in full lines in their collapsed condition. They may be opened up as required. The open positions are indicated by the dot and dash lines. This group of collapsible containers may be used as drawers, or similarly used, for storing and holding merchandise and objects.

In Figs. 6-8 inclusive, another embodiment of the invention has been disclosed which distinguishes from the first form of the invention in the fact that the collapsible container has been applied for inside package deliver, that is, the collapsible container is mounted upon the inner face of the door or support, contrasted with the prior form in which it was mounted upon the outside of a door or support. More specifically, a door 35 is provided with an opening 36 normally closed with a panel 31, or small door. This panel 37 is hingedly supported with hinges 38. It is provided with a knob 39 by which it may be easily opened and closed. A look 40 is provided for locking the panel 3! closed. A casing 4| is mounted .upon the inner face of the door 35 directly behind the opening 36 and surrounds said opening 36.

The casing 4| has a front opening 42 surrounded by a top wall 43, a bottom wall 44, and end walls 45. It is also provided with a back wall 6 which has a large opening 41 aligned with the opening 36. Accordion-like side walls 48 are mounted at their inner ends 49 by hinges 50 within the casing 4|. A front wall 52 is mounted across the outer ends of the accordion-like side walls 48. A base wall 53 is hingedly mounted at its bottom edge within the casing 4| for forming the bottom of the container when it is extended.

The accordion-like side walls 48 are formed from sections 54 which are hingedly connected with each other by the hinges 55. The outer ends of the accordion-like side walls 48 are hingedly connected with the front wall 52 by the hinges 53. The base wall 53 is hingedly mounted within the casing 4! by the hinge 51. The front wall 52 has a bottom ledge 58 upon which the front edge portion of the base wall 53 may rest when the container is open. Leaf spring catches 59 are mounted on the top wall 43 and are coactable with the top edge of the front wall 52 for holding the container releasibly in its collapsed condition.

The operation and use of the collapsible container may be understood from the following:

Figs.6 and 7 illustrate the container in its closed position. The door 35 may be opened and closed, and the collapsible container will maintain its closed position because of the leaf spring catches 59. A delivery may be made to the premises without requiring opening of the door 35. The delivery person opens the panel 37 and then reaches into the casing 4|, preferably above the base wall 53, and forces the accordion-like side walls 48 open. The base wall 53 is then allowed to fall downwards and the container is in its open position, as illustrated in Fig. 8. The articles are placed in the container and then the panel 31 is reclosed. For inside delivery the collapsible container requires no top cover. When the collapsible container is not in use, it is closed, as shown in Figs. 6 and '7, so as to take up a small compass.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications aesaaro coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what! claim is new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the class described, comprising a casing for attachment on a vertical support and having an open front surrounded by top, bottom and end walls, accordion-like side walls mounted at their inner ends within said casing, a front wall mounted across the outer ends of said accordion-like side walls, a base wall hingedly mounted at its bottom edge within said casing for forming the bottom of said container when extended, said casing being frame-like and having a back wall with an opening, a support for and extended across the back of said container and having an opening aligned with said opening, and a panel for closing said opening in said support,

, whereby when said panel is open said side walls and said front wall and said base wall may be extended by pushing forward through said opening.

2. A device of the class described, comprising a casing for attachment on a vertical support and having an open front surrounded by top, bottom and end walls, accordion-like side walls moted at their inner ends wit said a front wall mounted across the outer ends of said accordion-llke side walls, a base wall hingedly mounted at its bottom edge within said casing for forming the bottom or said container when extended, said casing being frame-like and having a back wall with an opening, a support for and extended across the back of said container having an opening aligned with said opening, a panel REFERENCES @H'HEED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STAS PATENTS Number Name Date $14,528 Thinnes Mar. 9, 1909 1,972,483 Hartson Sept. e, 193% 2,229,646 Firestone Jan, 28, 19M 

